Connect with us

Cannabis

Pew Research: 9 out of 10 Americans Support the Legalization of Cannabis

Data from the Pew Research Center shows that support for legalizing cannabis in the United States is strong and stable. Nearly 9 in 10 Americans support legalizing cannabis at least for medical purposes, indicating changing attitudes toward the substance. The discussion about cannabis legalization is complex and multidimensional, encompassing economic, social justice, public health and safety aspects

Published

on

Pew Research

In recent years, the issue of legalizing cannabis in the United States has become a hotly debated topic.

A new survey from the Pew Research Center shows that support for legalizing cannabis , both for medical and recreational purposes, is greater than ever. As many as 88% of American adults believe that marijuana should be legal at least for medical purposes, indicating growing public acceptance of the topic.

Read what the new Pew Research found out about the support of cannabis legalization by Americans and read the most important cannabis news from around the world with the Hemp.im mobile app.

Pew Research: General acceptance of cannabis legalization

The Pew Research Center survey, conducted January 16-21, 2024 among 5,140 U.S. adults, reveals impressive numbers. Nearly six in ten Americans (57%) support legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes.

Additionally, about one-third (32%) of respondents believe that cannabis should be legal only for medical purposes. Only 11% of respondents believe that cannabis should not be legal under any circumstances.

Positive effects of legalization on the economy

One of the key arguments of legalization supporters is the potential positive impact on the local economy. About 52% of Americans agree that legalizing recreational cannabis use benefits the local economy, while only 17% believe it has a negative impact. The remaining 29% of respondents see no impact on the economy.

Pew Research
The Pew Research Center survey, conducted January 16-21, 2024 among 5,140 U.S. adults, reveals impressive numbers. Source

Impact on the criminal justice system

Another important aspect of the debate is the fairness of the penal system. According to the survey, more American adults believe that legalizing recreational marijuana makes the justice system more fair (42%) rather than less fair (18%); 38% see no impact.

Pew Research: Public health and safety

Americans have mixed feelings about the impact of cannabis legalization on public health and safety. Some 29% of respondents believe legalization increases the use of other drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, while 27% believe their use is decreasing (42% see no effect). Moreover, 34% of Americans believe that legalizing cannabis makes communities less safe, while 21% say it makes communities safer (44% see no effect).

Party and demographic divisions

There are significant differences in opinions about cannabis legalization depending on party affiliation and age. For example, 72% of Democrats support legalizing cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, compared to 42% of Republicans. Additionally, younger adults are much more likely to support legalization than older adults.

Summary of the Pew Research

Data from the Pew Research Center shows that support for legalizing cannabis in the United States is strong and stable. Nearly 9 in 10 Americans support legalizing cannabis at least for medical purposes, indicating changing attitudes toward the substance.

The discussion about cannabis legalization is complex and multidimensional, encompassing economic, social justice, public health and safety aspects. However, growing public acceptance and positive perceptions of the potential benefits of legalization point to the direction future drug policies in the US may take.

__

(Featured image by MurrPhoto via Pixabay)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in Fakty Konopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the articles from the originals. In case of discrepancy, the originals will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Born2Invest assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Born2Invest is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us

Arturo Garcia started out as a political writer for a local newspaper in Peru, before covering big-league sports for national broadsheets. Eventually he began writing about innovative tech and business trends, which let him travel all over North and South America. Currently he is exploring the world of Bitcoin and cannabis, two hot commodities which he believes are poised to change history.